European Bluegrass Blog

An invitation from the EWOB Festival

noreply@blogger.com (EBMA, Angelika Torrie) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 10:14:00 +0000

Liz Meyer reports:

Dear Friends,

CONGRATULATIONS! Your brand-new EWOB Festival website has just been launched and it's online! You'll recognise the lovely artwork at the top, but the whole website is new, with lots of terrific new features.

Welcome to the European World of Bluegrass!

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC! You can hear clips from the 10 years of European World of Bluegrass double CD - all 48 tracks! Read review quotes, and find all the info you need in our Festival Info and FAQ pages. Visit our Photo Gallery and add your comments and info. Help us identify the people in the photos! Send us your favorite EWOB photos and stories. Become an EWOB Festival Volunteer - or Sponsor!

TALK TO US! We have lots of great ideas for the website, and we hope you'll e-mail us with your suggestions and requests. This website is for you! Let us know what you'd like to see. (And please let us know if anything doesn't work perfectly!) Sign our Guestbook!

TELL YOUR FRIENDS! It's time to visit www.ewob.eu, open the music player, and discover European bluegrass! Most of all, you'll want to join our EWOB mailing list to keep up with important EWOB news and info!

Visit the new EWOB Festival website now!

SPECIAL HOLIDAY OFFER!

In 2008, Strictly Country Records' beautiful double CD, 10 years of European World of Bluegrass, shot straight to #1 on the Folk Radio charts in the USA and Canada! The music world got its first taste of European bluegrass - and they love it!

Here's a special low price for a 2-hour bluegrass tour of Europe that you'll enjoy for years from the comfort of your easy chair. 10 years of EWOB is the perfect gift for anyone who enjoys bluegrass music - a banjo-laden ramble through such exotic lands as the Czech Republic, Finland, Italy, Sweden, and Slovenia, along with some of your favorite American touring artists. (Hear audio clips, read CD info and review quotes on our new EWOB website!)

SPECIAL HOLIDAY OFFER: Until 1 January, buy one double CD (10 years of European World of Bluegrass) at regular price, and get 30% off + free shipping on each additional CD. This offer is good only by direct e-mail.

Listen to music now!

EUROPEAN WORLD OF BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL 2009 (21-22-23 May):

Band applications for the EWOB Festival 2009 are just closing (1 Dec.). Our Program Committee will be very busy listening to all the demos in the coming weeks! Bands selected to perform at EWOB 2009 will be contacted in late January, and we'll announce the program as soon as it is finalised.

Our thanks to the Thirsty Lizards for their terrific work on the website!

Discover European bluegrass! The adventure begins here.

Warm regards,
Liz Meyer

10 years of European World of Bluegrass (2-CD set):
'The language of Bluegrass transcends borders on this collection. For your introduction into the European World of Bluegrass, this is the place to start your world tour!' ~ Folkwax, USA

Radio playlists

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Hawkins) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 08:17:00 +0000

Kabel 87.5 MHz - Omroep Venray - Ether 90.2 MHz:
Peelgrass playlist: 2433rd Country Programme, Sun. 30 Nov.
PeelGrass is now also broadcast on Huissentv (the Netherlands)

NeoRadio.nl:
NEO Country playlist, Tues. 15 Jan., 8.00-9.00 p.m.

Radio Vrolek, 107.7 MHz; local cable 105.5 MHz; Information TV-channel 2:
Country Music Round-up playlists, Tues. 19.00-20.00, Sat. 12.00-13.00

Radio Free FM Ulm, UKW 102.6:
Americana 250 playlist, Mon. 24 Nov., midnight-02.22*
Antistatic Country Time playlist, Mon. 24 Nov. (Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike, Eberhard Finke)
* Programmes in this series are broadcast live on Radio Free FM and Countrymusic24.com and repeated the following day at 17:30-20.00 European Continental time on Countrymusic24.com. Next Monday (24 November) the 250th 'Americana' will be broadcast!

Banjo Newsletter: 35 years of achievement

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Hawkins) — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 11:08:00 +0000

Nancy Nitchie and her son Donald accept the Distinguished Achievement Award, with Tony Trischka (left), who gave the introductory address.

The most important periodical for banjo players was founded by Hub Nitchie and his wife Nancy in 1973 as The Monthly Newsletter: The 5-String Banjo, renamed Banjo Newsletter in February 1974. After Hub passed away in October 1992, his son Donald took over as editor, with Nancy as business manager; later their other son, Spencer, joined her. Together they started work on the Maryland Banjo Academy in 1997.

Maryland Banjo Academy

At the IBMA's World of Bluegrass 2008 in Nashville, Banjo Newsletter received a Distinguished Achievement Award at the Special Awards Luncheon. Thanks to Lilly Pavlak for these photos. Lilly recalls:

Nancy and Hub are (were) about my oldest bluegrass friends. I met them at the Bean Blossom festival in 1976, and then again in Carlisle at the Banjo Jamboree in Canada later on. They brought me with their car back to New York for my flight to Europe.

At that time Spencer was a little boy. I can still remember Hub shawed his hair and used some kind of spray to color his head green, so he looked like the green cover of his magazine. Nancy and Donald are still my good friends.

Lilly Pavlak and Nancy Nitchie (with Strictly Country magazine) outside the IBMA trade show stand at World of Bluegrass 2008

Videos of European bluegrass wanted for US TV

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Hawkins) — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 10:27:00 +0000

Does your band or event have video footage which could be made available for airing in the USA?

A new channel - ZGrass, The Bluegrass Channel, LLC - will launch in March 2009, presenting 'all bluegrass, all day, all the time'. And its managing director, Harold Brown, is looking for all the video he can find from European bluegrass bands. Contact:

Harold Brown, Managing Director
The Bluegrass Channel, LLC
Telephone: +1-305-890-6843
e-mail

Carolina Chocolate Drops on video

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Hawkins) — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 12:23:00 +0000

Thanks to Tim Hawkins for the news that the Carolina Chocolate Drops, who have just completed a two-week tour in Britain, can be seen on BoingBoing.net, one of the most popular blog sites, performing 'Memphis shakedown', a Memphis Jug Band song from 1934, at the Will Shade Gravestone Benefit. The video was posted in April on YouTube.

Thankful for Bluegrass 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Hawkins) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 22:23:00 +0000

The original Bluegrass Blog is celebrating Thanksgiving by running a poll among readers on the Bluegrass Recording of 2008 for which they're Most Thankful.

The list includes the G2 Bluegrass Band (Sweden), the only band listed from outside North America. However, to score points for the band, the name of a particular recording should also be given. The poll will remain open for another week.

US bands in Britain and Ireland, Jan.-Feb. 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Hawkins) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 21:13:00 +0000

Thanks to FOAOTMAD for the news that before travelling to Germany in January/February 2009 to play the shows listed in the last Music Contact News, the Wilders (USA) will be playing the following ten dates in the UK in January:

Fri. 16th: Celtic Connections, Glasgow
Sat. 17th: The Warehouse, Lossiemouth
Sun. 18th: The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen
Mon. 19th: Tin Hut Sessions, Huntly, Aberdeenshire
Thu. 22nd: The Sage Theatre, Gateshead (with Kathy Mattea and band)
Fri. 23rd: The Musician, Leicester
Sat. 24th: Tingewick Village Hall, Buckinghamshire
Sun. 25th: The Luminaire, London (with the Hot Seats)
Mon. 26th: Maverick @ Zebra Bar, Maidstone
Tues. 27th: The Ropewalk, Barton-on-Humber

In the same time frame, the Special Consensus (USA) will be playing every night from 14 January to 3 February 2009 in Great Britain and Ireland - see the band's tour schedule for details. Both bands are among the many US acts taking part in the Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow, Scotland.

Red Wine receives Regione Liguria Award

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Hawkins) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 20:31:00 +0000

On 17 October Red Wine received the 39th Regione Liguria Award for Music 2008, promoted by the Colombo Foundation.

The Award, created by Don Bruno Venturelli, sponsored by Regione Liguria and Carige Bank, has become the event that every year recognises individuals, groups, or organizations from Liguria who distinguished themselves in the culture, music, entertainment, and business professions.

During the short set following the ceremony at Teatro della Gioventù, Red Wine was joined by special guest and friend Michael Guggino, mandolin player for the great NC-based band Steep Canyon Rangers, who was travelling through Italy on vacation with his wife and a couple of friends.

On that same stage Red Wine will host its first 'Bluegrass Party' on 13-14 February 2009, with special guest Tim O'Brien.

More photos from the award evening, taken by Stefano Goldberg, can be seen on the Red Wine website.

New Acoustic Gallery concerts, 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Hawkins) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:22:00 +0000

Ana Vidovic: not a bluegrass guitar, but...

Oliver Waitze of the New Acoustic Gallery, Solingen, Germany, announces the Gallery's programme of concerts for the coming year:

08.03.2009: Ana Vidovic, superstar of the classical guitar! VV €30; AK €35
30.03.2009: The Krüger Brothers Band! VV €30; AK €35
02.06.2009: Joscho Stephan Trio & Richard Smith; VV €20; AK €25
31.10.2009: Duo (Trio) Vibracao featuring Max Schaaf; VV €18; AK €22
06.12.2009: Beppe Gambetta; VV €18; AK €22

Full details of performers are on the New Acoustic Gallery website.

The NAG's first Mandolin Festival is planned for the end of August/ early September 2009. More details will follow. For reservations and more info, telephone Oliver Waitze at +49 (0)212/2474007. Early reservations are advisable, as only 75 seats are available for each concert.

EWOB website better than ever

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Hawkins) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 13:24:00 +0000

Thanks to Liz Meyer for welcome news:

Congratulations! Your new EWOB website is online! Please let your friends know it's time to visit the site, and ask them to sign the Guestbook.

The new site looks good, works beautifully, and has music, slideshows, and information on all aspects of the Festival, past and present - you can sign up as a sponsor, a performer, a trade show exhibitor, an advertiser, or a volunteer helper; check the list of all the bands who have performed at Voorthuizen, or the list of all EWOB events throughout Europe this year; listen to tracks from the acclaimed 2-CD 10 years of EWOB compilation by Strictly Country Records; and much more.

The site has been designed and engineered by the Thirsty Lizards team (USA), who specialise in music-related sites - previous customers include the prestigious Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival. (As TSGWebPlus, they also handle business websites in general.)

Happy 30th birthday, COP!

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Hawkins) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 12:10:00 +0000

Left to right: Petr Slama, Martin Fridrich, Vlada Ptacek, Jrka Vopava, Zdenek Fik, Misa Leicht, Robert Krestan, Samson Lenk, Jarda Sterba, Pepa Malina

Thanks to Lilly Pavlak for photos and a report on the concert that marked the thirtieth anniversary of Czech bluegrass band COP, held on 8 November 2008 in the historic Lucerna concert hall in Prague, which has seats for 1,200. Over 1,500 people attended the show, which included band members past and present, and special guests.

COP were formed in 1978 in Pilsen, and had a powerful influence in spreading bluegrass with their spontaneous live shows and Czech lyrics. A recording of the concert will be released on CD early in 2009, together with a reissue of the CD of their fifteenth-anniversary concert. Lilly's full report, with more details and more photos, will appear in Bluegrass Europe.

The Lucerna

Beppe Gambetta in Belgium, 30 Nov. 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Hawkins) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 11:13:00 +0000

Bluegrass in Belgium reports:

Everyone present at the Sawmill Road concert in Toogenblik [17 November] will agree we had a wonderful evening. This reminded us of the good old days at Toogenblik in the 90s. We look forward to the next gig in Toogenblik !

Another nice place, 't Ey in Belsele (Sint Niklaas), will have the great Italian bluegrass guitar picker/singer/entertainer Beppe Gambetta.

Sunday 30/11/2008 at 16:00
't Ey
Koutermolenstraat 6b
9111 Belsele (Sint-Niklaas)

EWOB applications deadline: now 1 Dec. 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Hawkins) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:15:00 +0000

Liz Meyer reports:

CALLING ALL BLUEGRASS BANDS:

Please pass this message on to your own mailing lists and musician friends. Due to some computer breakdowns here, the BAND APPLICATION DEADLINE for the European World of Bluegrass Festival 2009 (21-23 May 2009) has been extended to DECEMBER 1st.

Don't miss EWOB 2009! Apply now!

BANDS FROM AROUND THE WORLD: Your band can perform for festival bookers, agents, concert promoters, radio DJs, and music press from all over Europe! (And a wonderful bluegrass audience too!)

*European bands can compete for the European Bluegrass Band Awards! 'You gotta be in it to win it!'
*You can all VOTE for the winning bands! Remember, only the musicians playing at the EWOB Festival vote for these awards!
*The #1 European Bluegrass Band goes to Nashville to showcase at IBMA the following October!
*You can cast a vote of pride in European bluegrass!
*Join us at the European World of Bluegrass Festival 2009!

Band applications are on the EWOB Festival website.
(And we will launch a brand-new, fantastic festival website in a few days, too!)

EWOB 2009 will be the 12th European World of Bluegrass Festival, held in Voorthuizen, the Netherlands, and is organized under the auspices of the European Bluegrass Music Association.

Picnic Festival 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Hawkins) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:16:00 +0000

Thanks to Laurent Eeckhout, Picnic Festival organiser, for a report and photos of the 4th Picnic Festival, held at Terra Nova in the Citadel, Namur, Belgium, on 6 and 7 September 2008. Laurent writes:

It was a great success for the bluegrass day (and also for Celtic day), as you can see on the picture. We had five bluegrass bands : G-Runs 'n' Roses (CZ), Sons Of Navarone (B), Clo & Milo (B), Sacred Sounds Of Grass (D), and the Lovell Sisters (USA).

The weather was cloudly on the Saturday but no rain and even stars in the sky on the evening (and on stage too...). The Lovell Sisters were wonderful and the audience really loved their show.

The Irish Pub was also very nice, with jam sessions until late at night - musicians from the bands (two of the Sisters, G'Runs...) and from the audience too.

Planning for the Fifth Picnic Festival (5-6 September 2009) is in progress. For information, contact

Laurent Eeckhout
Rue de Soye 19
5190 Spy
Belgique
e-mail
+32 (0)472 22 03 26

G2 live in concert: Stockholm, 17 Dec. 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Hawkins) — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:37:00 +0000

G2 Bluegrass Band (Sweden), #1 European Bluegrass Band 2007, will perform in concert at the Boulevard Theatre, Götgatan 73, Stockholm, Sweden, on 17 December, beginning at 19:30.

Tickets can be bought at the Boulevard's ticket office (open 12:00-18:00 daily) or through Ticnet, or reserved by 'phone (theatre 08-642 98 00; Ticnet 077-170 70 70). For anyone who can't get to Stockholm: videos of live shows by G2 can be seen on the band's MySpace site.

Thomas Bailey: dates in Europe

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Hawkins) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 22:01:00 +0000

Thomas Bailey from Virginia, multi-instrumental master of '21st-century old-time music', will be in Europe during the next ten days to play a few dates. At the Fourth Vilnius Bluegrass Festival in Lithuania, he is headlining the Friday night show (21 Nov.) and presenting an old-time fiddle workshop on Saturday afternoon (22 Nov.).

In the following week he will play two dates in Paris: as solo singer with guitar on Tuesday 25 Nov. in the Café Les Trois Arts; and as fiddler in an evening of string band music on Friday 28 Nov. at the Café Toc-Toques, with Ilan Moss of the Old Timey Messengers (banjo) and Cory Seznic of the Groanbox Boys (guitar).

Thomas Bailey, who toured Scandinavia in autumn 2007 with the Forge Mountain Diggers and has since been playing with the Freighthoppers, will be touring the UK in spring 2009. He also has a MySpace site.

21 Nov.: 4th Vilnius Bluegrass Festival, Vilnius, Lithuania, concert, 20:00

22 Nov.: 4th Vilnius Bluegrass Festival, Vilnius, Lithuania, old-time fiddle workshop, 12:00

25 Nov.: Les Trois Arts, 21 rue des Rigoles, Bellville, 75020 Paris, Ile-de-France 21:00; M° Jourdain; €5

28 Nov.: Toc-Tocques Café, 109 Boulevard Charonne, 75011 Paris, Ile-de-France; 20:00

Bluegrass earthquake at Celtic Connections 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Hawkins) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:41:00 +0000

Dan Tyminski

Thanks to the Scottish Bluegrass Association for news of the Celtic Connections 2009 Festival, to be held in Glasgow, Scotland, from 15 January to 1 February 2009.

The schedule includes the following bluegrass and old-time music talent: Cherryholmes, Dan Tyminski, the Jerry Douglas Band, Bela Fleck, Tim O'Brien, Crooked Still, Bruce Molsky, Abigail Washburn & the Sparrow Quartet, Russ Barenberg, the Hot Seats, Leon Hunt & Guests, the Wilders, Dirk Powell & Riley Baugus.

As the SBA says, this makes Scotland 'the epicentre of a European bluegrass earthquake'. More details are on the Celtic Connections website.

Gold Heart tour in the UK, Apr.-May 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Hawkins) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:37:00 +0000

News was posted on the European Bluegrass Blog on 7 November of US bands who will be touring in 2009 under the auspices of the Scottish Bluegrass Association. The following dates are announced for the Gold Heart Bluegrass Band from Virginia:

Fri. 24 Apr.: Heart of England Bluegrass Venue, Kenilworth; +44 (0)2476 312258
Sat. 25 Apr.: Jumpin Hot Club, Live Theatre, Newcastle; +44 (0)191 2321232
Sun. 26 Apr.: Comfort Hotel, Nottingham; +44 (0)1159 120080
Mon. 27 Apr.: Zebra Club, Maidstone; +44 (0)1622 744481
Tues. 28 Apr.: Montrose Folk Club, Links Hotel, Montrose; +44 (0)1674 830658
Wed. 29 Apr.: SBA, Regal Theatre, Bathgate; +44 (0)1506 433634
Thurs. 30 Apr.: Wildwood Flower Mountain Music, South Molton; +44 (0)1237 472083
Fri. 1 May: Tacchi Morris Arts Centre, Taunton; +44 (0)1823 414141
Sat. 2 May: Bluegrass Plus Club, Croydon; +44 (0)1737 551191
Sun. 3 May: University Arms, Sheffield; +44 (0)1298 871645

Contact John Sheldon through the Scottish Bluegrass Association website, by phone (+44 (0)1968670038), or by e-mail.

Advertise in British Bluegrass News!

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Hawkins) — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 13:31:00 +0000

With new moves taking place within the British Bluegrass Music Association, as reported here on 11 November, Sherryl Payne, bass player with the UK band A Band Like Alice (whose new CD Down to the wire was released in autumn 2008), is now BBMA treasurer and in charge of advertising in British Bluegrass News.

Sherryl reports that BBN's advertising rates have been reduced - £40 is the cost for a full page, £30 for half a page, £20 for quarter page. If you want your festival, concert, recording, instruments, business, etc. to be publicised on the bluegrass scene in Britain, an ad in BBN is strongly recommended.

The next issue will be out before Christmas 2008, and deadline for copy is 1 December. Contact Sherryl by e-mail.

Tom Hanway signed to worldwide distribution deal

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Hawkins) — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 12:23:00 +0000

American bluegrass composer, banjoist, and guitarist Tom Hanway, now living in Ireland, has hit a major milestone by signing a worldwide distribution deal with Digital Revolution Entertainment for his three releases, originally on Joyous Gard Records. All music from Tom Hanway, Bucket of bees (13 tracks), Tom Hanway & Blue Horizon (15 tracks), and Tom Hanway & Vassar Clements, The Badbelly project (14 tracks) will be available as digital downloads in the following formats: (1) as entire albums, (2) a la carte - 42 songs, and (3) as ringtones. Amazon, Napster, Rhapsody, Lala, eMusic were the first to offer MP3 downloads (on 11/11/2008), with iTunes, Nokia, Liquid, MEdia Net, PassAlong, Puretracks, SNOCAP, SpiralFrog, and more online music stores to follow.

Tom Hanway, Bucket of bees, featuring Sam Bush, Vassar Clements, Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, David Grier, and Tony Trischka, was recorded in New York City and Nashville, Tennessee, produced by Tony Trischka, Larry Cohen, and Tom Hanway. Tom Hanway & Blue Horizon, featuring Vassar Clements, Mark Schatz, and Roy Huskey, Jr., was recorded in Nashville, produced by Tom Hanway and engineered by Bil VornDick. Tom Hanway & Vassar Clements, The Badbelly project, featuring Larry Campbell and Lucy Kaplansky, was recorded in the Bronx, New York, co-produced by Lincoln Schleifer and Tom Hanway.

In Ireland and throughout the world, Tom Hanway’s three albums (42 songs) can now be purchased at this Amazon link, or visit Tom Hanway’s website and search under 'Music Stores'.

Music Contact News: update

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Hawkins) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 16:39:00 +0000

Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike: (left to right) Becky Buller, Valerie Smith, Bobby Davis (hidden), Chad Graves, Eric Lambert

Rainer Zellner, of Music Contact Roots Music Booking and Production, announces that more dates have been added to the December tour schedule for Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike,which now reads as follows:

2 Dec.: Haus International, 87435 Kempten, Germany, 20:00
3 Dec.: Cafe de Vriendschap, Wadway, the Netherlands, 20:00
4 Dec.: Landesstelle Unna-Massen, 59427 Unna, Germany, 19:00
5 Dec.: Bischofsmühle, 31137 Hildesheim, Germany, 21:00
6 Dec.: HRZ 't Zwaantje, Lievelde, Netherlands, 20:30
9 Dec.: A-6020 Innsbruck, Germany, TBA
10 Dec.: Halle QuerFeld, CH-4053 Basel, Switzerland, 19:30
11 Dec.: Salmen, 77652 Offenburg, Germany, 20:00
12 Dec.: Wodan Halle, 79098 Freiburg, Germany, 20:30
13 Dec.: 'Country Christmas', Schützenhaus, 89340 Leipheim, Germany, 20:00
14 Dec.: Sudhaus, Tübingen, Germany, 20:30
15 Dec.: Nachtleben, 60433 Frankfurt, Germany, 21:00
16 Dec.: Bottich, 75175 Pforzheim, Germany, 20:15
17 Dec.: Haus der Kultur, 84478 Waldkraiburg, Germany, 20:00
18 Dec.: Kulturforum, 90762 Fürth, Germany
20 Dec.: Restaurant Lerchenberg, CH-8046 Zürich, Switzerland, 20:00

The following dates have also been confirmed so far for the Wilders (old-time meets honky-tonk):

28 Jan. 2009: Blue Shell, 50441 Köln, Germany, 22:00
30 Jan.: Theater, 06295 Lutherstadt-Eisleben, Germany, 19:30
31 Jan.: Albert Einstein Forum, 41564 Kaarst, Germany, 20:00
1 Feb.: Lutherhaus, 49080 Osnabrück, Germany, 18:00
2 Feb.: Neue Welt, 85049 Ingolstadt, Germany, 20:30
4 Feb.: Kulturforum, 90762 Fürth, Germany, 20:00
6 Feb.: Ratssaal, 28816 Stuhr, Germany, 20:00
7 Feb.: Country Messe, Postbahnhof, Berlin, TBA
9 Feb.: Hillbilly Fever Festival, Berlin, TBA
12 Feb.: Lincoln Theater, 67547 Worms, Germany, 20:00
15 Feb.: Four Corners Music Hall, 86836 Untermeitingen, Germany
17 Feb.: Haus der Kultur, 84478 Waldkraiburg, Germany
20 Feb.: Club Bastion, 73230 Kirchheim/T., Germany

and Crooked Still (alternative bluegrass):

1 May: Bürgerhaus, Bühl Bluegrass Festival, 77815 Bühl, Baden, Germany
3 May: Kulturhaus, 74343 Sachsenheim, Germany, 20:00
6 May: Kulturkeller, 36037 Fulda, Germany, 20:00
8 May: Theater, 06295 Lutherstadt-Eisleben, Germany, 19:30
11 May: Neue Welt, Ingolstadt, Germany, 20:30
19 May: Haus der Kultur, 84478 Waldkraiburg, Germany, 20:00

Also playing at the Bühl Bluegrass Festival will be the Moonlighters ('Hawaiian Sounds from New York City'), whose tour dates so far are:

17 Apr.: Wodan Halle, 79098 Freiburg, Germany
21 Apr.: Bottich, 75175 Pforzheim, Germany, 20:15
24 Apr.: ParkTheater im Kurhaus Göggingen, 86199 Augsburg, Germany, 20:00
27 Apr.: Jegelscheune, 90530 Wendelstein, Germany
30 Apr.: Wespennest, 67433 Neustadt, Germnay, 20:00
2 May: Bürgerhaus, Bühl Bluegrass Festival, 77815 Bühl, Baden, Germany

The Horseflies (USA) old-time band are making a sensational comeback with their first studio album in fifteen years: '... a classic mix of Fiddlin’ John Carson, Norman Edmonds, and acid house – basically, what the band do better than anyone else in the world' - Roots (coming in Summer 2009)

And the Bluegrass Jamboree Festival of Bluegrass and Americana Music will be on tour from 3 December to 20 December 2009, with the Steep Canyon Rangers (USA), Hunger Mountain Boys (USA), the Toy Hearts (UK), and Roland Heinrich (D). Dates so far arranged are:

3 Dec. 2009 Waldkraiburg
12 Dec. 2009 Offenburg
19 Dec. 2009 Kaarst (bei Düsseldorf)

'Hillbilly Boogie', the country broadcast on free Radio Tübingen, can now be heard worldwide on the internet. Tell your friends! Next live broadcast: 27 June, 21-23:00.

For further info, contact Rainer Zellner at the Music Contact roots music booking and production agency, Saarstrasse 8, D-72070 Tübingen, Germany; +49 (0) 7073 2250; fax +49 (0) 7073 2134; UStID: DE146940684; e-mail; download media data.

New Alison Brown CD: Christmas gift offer

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Hawkins) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 12:21:00 +0000

Stephanie Fields of Compass Records (USA) sends this message to the EBMA and other bluegrass associations:

I wanted to let you know about banjo player Alison Brown’s new holiday album Evergreen. It’s her first recording of seasonal music and features lots of banjo pickin’ alongside performances by bandmates Joe Craven and John R. Burr on a variety of well loved holiday classics. The album has received glowing advance press ('The Alison Brown Quartet has packaged a fun and very fine gift for holiday audiences. The musicianship is top notch. If you enjoy jazz or bluegrass, Evergreen should definitely be under your tree!' - Christmasreviews.com) and, since I know it’s tough to find fresh acoustic-oriented CDs for the season, I thought your members would be particularly interested to know about the release.

As a special promotion for the album, Compass Records is offering a bundled gift set that includes the CD paired with an adorable banjo cat wine caddie, customised especially for Alison by an artisan in Kentucky and one of her favorite finds of 2008. We would like to extend a 20% off coupon to your members for purchases on our website during November and December 2008, good towards the purchase of the banjo cat gift set or anything else in our catalog.

I look forward to hearing from you,

Stephanie

Sawmill Road tour in Europe: final schedule

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Hawkins) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:02:00 +0000

A.R.T. Promotions announces that the final confirmed schedule for this month's European tour by Sawmill Road (USA) - Bruce Johnson (fiddle), Steve Spurgin (bass), Charlie Edsall (guitar), Dick Brown (banjo), and Mark Miracle (mandolin) - are as follows:

Thurs. 13 Nov.: Kulturhalle QuerFeld, Bluegrass in Basel, Basel, Switzerland, 7.30 p.m.

Fri. 14 Nov.: Pfleghofsaal, Country & Western Friends Koetz, 89129 Langenau/n, Ulm, Germany, 8.00 p.m.

Sat. 15 Nov.: Private party, Tullins, France

Sun 16 Nov.: MJC Saint-Saulve, Saint-Saulve, France, 8.30 p.m.

Mon. 17 Nov.: Toogenblik, Cortenbachstraat 11, 1130 Haren - Brussels, Belgium, 9.00 p.m.

Tues. 18 Nov.: [day off]

Wed. 19 Nov.: Partycentrum 'De Vriendschap', Wadway/Wognum, the Netherlands, 8.00 p.m. (reservation: +31 22 957 14 48)

Thurs. 20 Nov.: Colonial Country Club, Valthe, the Netherlands, 8.00 p.m.

Fri. 21 Nov.: Biografen, Storegade 55, 4780 Stege, Denmark; tel. 55 81 42 10, 8.00 p.m.

Sat. 22 Nov.: Karens Minde Kulturhus, Bluegrass Music Denmark, Wagnersvej 19, 2450 Kbh. SV, Copenhagen, Denmark, 8.00 p.m.*

Sun. 23 Nov.: [travel]

Mon. 24 Nov.: private event at school, Germany

Tues. 25 Nov.: Dolder2, Feuerthalen (Schaffhausen), Switzerland

Wed. 26 Nov.: Restaurant Sternenberg, Switzerland (by invitation)

Thurs. 27 Nov.: Tschugg, Switzerland; details tba

Fri. 28 Nov.: living room concert, Vöhringen, Germany

Sat. 29 Nov.: Schütte-Keller, Bühl/Baden, Germany, 8.00 p.m.

Please check with the venue before going there.

*Full details for the Copenhagen concert are:

Årets højdepunkt med Sawmill Road (USA), Blue Mountain Boys (Sverige), Beppe Gambetta (Italien), Little Big Love (DK). Entré på 130,- (100,- for medl. af BMD)

Vi starter allerede kl. 19.00, og der er mulighed for spisning 17.30-18.30. Spisning koster 75,- og skal bestilles hos Arne på apsbanjo@fasttvnet.dk eller 36 789 709.

For more information, contact:

Angelika Torrie
A.R.T. Promotions
+41 79 520 56 27
e-mail

European Bluegrass Summit in Bühl, 7-8 February 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Hawkins) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 18:52:00 +0000

For the attention of those involved in European Bluegrass Music:

A successful two-day International Bluegrass Summit took place in Nashville as part of the 2008 IBMA World of Bluegrass. This meeting was `facilitated’ by a professional mediator whose method of running the meeting guaranteed constructive discussion and outcomes. A summary of issues raised from this discussion can be seen here.

One very positive outcome was the formation of a new European Summit Steering Committee as a sub-committee of the IBMA International Committee. This Steering Committee includes IBMA International Committee chair Richard Hawkins, IBMA International Board representative Rienk Janssen, British Bluegrass Music Association chair John Wirtz, and Scottish Bluegrass Association secretary John Sheldon.

Following up on this success, bluegrass associations, event organisers, promoters, and activists within the European bluegrass community are now invited to take part in a two-day EUROPEAN BLUEGRASS SUMMIT. This summit meeting will use the same professional mediator and methods of ‘facilitation’ as used in Nashville, and is supported by the IBMA.

Aims of the EUROPEAN BLUEGRASS SUMMIT 2009 are summarised as follows:

* To provide an opportunity for a wide audience of up to forty participants to meet face to face, bond, and get to know each other,

* To highlight some of the issues affecting the promotion of bluegrass music in Europe,

* To explore the issues facing different countries and different cultures in Europe,

* To motivate people to work together more closely and to communicate more effectively.

The European Bluegrass Summit will be held on the 7th and 8th of February 2009 in the town of Bühl/Baden, southern Germany. Full details of the Summit meeting location, the Summit schedule, and a list of hotels, are set out here. The application form for the European Bluegrass Summit is shown below.

The costs and arrangements for travel, subsistence, and accommodation are the entire responsibility of the participants.

We look forward to your participation and we would be pleased if you would circulate this invitation to other person you think should be invited.

Yours sincerely,

Rienk Janssen, Richard Hawkins, John Wirtz, John Sheldon
IBMA European Summit Steering Committee

Applications for a place on the European Bluegrass Summit 2009 are invited from all interested parties.

To apply, please send in the following information by e-mail no later than 10 December 2008. Your place on the Summit will be confirmed to you by 12 December 2008.

Full name:

Nationality:

Postal address:

e-mail address:

Landline telephone including country code:

What is your intended mode of transport?

Do you represent a National Bluegrass Association – if so, which country?

Do you need help with translation during discussions?

What is your involvement and activity in bluegrass music?

Moonshiner begins volume 26

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Hawkins) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:04:00 +0000

Congratulations to the leading Japanese bluegrass magazine Moonshiner on beginning its twenty-sixth volume. And thanks to Saburo ('Sab') Watanabe Inoue for the above copy of the cover of the current issue: #301 (November 2008). It pays tribute to the IBMA by reproducing the image used in this year's World of Bluegrass and incorporating a Discover Bluegrass sticker.